20:15 Chelmsford City

Friday 6 October 2017

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:4521:15

Bet toteWin At betfred.com Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 20:28 | Winning time: 1m 38.70s

(6)

Foie Gras^p⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: S De Sousa| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 67| CD

7/1

Scored in a similar C&D contest in March from 1lb lower and has run well a few times while in the grip of the handicapper since then. The drop back from 1m2f looks positive and he is not ruled out.

Form: 553369

(5)

African Blessing²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: B A Curtis| T: C Wallis| OR: 66

12/1

Sole AW win was on debut at Southwell (6f) last year, but has added turf wins at Doncastert (7f handicap) and Leicester (7f seller) since. Now 2lb lower than that Doncaster success from April and has claim if proving he gets this far.

Form: 745156

(4)

Fantasy Gladiator^b,e/s¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 62| CD

5/1

Back to form since returning to this venue lately, winning over C&D in similar company last month and being beaten just 1½L after a 3lb rise when stepped up to 1m2f last time. Drops back to 1m now and nudged up another 1lb but should be competitive.

Form: 265612

(1)

Brasted^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Paddy Bradley⁽⁵⁾| T: L Carter| OR: 62| CD

6/1

Both of his wins have been in C&D claimers, but yet to pick up a handicap and despite a slide in the weights he has not looked like doing so. Dropped a further 3lb today, but not easy to get excited about a first win in this sphere.

Form: 244-508

(8)

My Fantasea²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: S W Kelly| T: P D Evans| OR: 62

12/1

Sole success was in a Dundalk maiden (1m2½f, AW) last year for John Oxx, but has been unable to go on from there and has now slid 18lbs since joining current stable in December. Not yet hinting at further success and others preferred today.

Form: 88-7040

(9)

Widnes^b²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Robert Tart| T: A Bailey| OR: 64

10/1

0-11 so far, though went very close in first-time blinkers at Lingfield in March from 5lb higher and put in a respectable effort when a 2½L fourth here over 7f in August. Might have an each-way squeak if he can get home over this trip.

Form: 447640

(7)

Slow To Hand^b²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: W Jarvis| OR: 62| BF

5/2

Landed a Yarmouth handicap (7f, good to firm) in August from 7lb lower and has run well on both starts since being stepped up to this trip. However, he keeps being nudged further up the handicap, making this a tough enough assignment.

Form: 640125

(10)

Pass The Cristal⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: D C Costello| T: W R Muir| OR: 61

16/1

Recorded back-to-back victories at Brighton (7f) and Beverley (7½f) in the spring, the latter from just 1lb lower than today. Ran well enough here over 7f last time from this mark (beaten 2¼L) and should have no problem over this trip. Claims.

Form: 654834

(3)

Breathoffreshair¹⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: R C Guest| OR: 55

16/1

Best effort so far by some margin was a 3L fourth in a Newcastle maiden auction contest 11 months ago (7f, AW). Beaten 31L when last seen at Nottingham in May and looks best watched after that latest absence.

Form: 004-0

(2)

Break The Silence¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 52

6/1

Placed in half of his 12 starts, though yet to get his nose in front. 1lb higher than another decent effort to be a 2L runner-up at Brighton last time. Has form at this venue and should not be far away.

Form: 965332

Forecasts

Slow To Hand (5/2), Fantasy Gladiator (5/1), Break The Silence (6/1), Brasted (6/1), Foie Gras (7/1), Widnes (10/1), African Blessing (12/1), My Fantasea (12/1), Pass The Cristal (16/1), Breathoffreshair (16/1)

If he turns up for this then Foie Gras has to enter calculations, while African Blessing is on a handy mark if he can get home over this far. Fantasy Gladiator and Break The Silence provide us with recent collateral form and both can go well, though the suggestion is PASS THE CRISTAL, who ran well here last time and might just be able to eek out the necessary improvement over this extra furlong.